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Boy Opens Bakery, Matches Sells With Cupcakes For Homeless
What an inspiring story! He uses his baking skills to those who need it most.
Emma Smizer
07.17.19

Food Justice Advocate, Baker, Speaker, CEO – would you believe that a 13 year-old boy from Maryland is all of these amazing things? One boy is driven by a powerful passion to help others, and this is his story.

Meet Michael Platt, a young man who has a vision of changing the world, one cupcake at a time.

People
Source:
People

Growing up in Bowie, Maryland, Michael Platt always knew he loved to bake. His other great love is advocating for an end to childhood hunger and drawing awareness to income disparities. At just 11 years-old, Michael decided to combine his two passions into a combined project called Michael’s Desserts, a bakery where for each treat bought, another baked good is donated to the homeless.

According to Michael, he sells around 75 cupcakes each month, making more than 100 baked goods each month.

Thanks to those sales, Michael is able to give away an equal amount (and sometimes more) to places such as domestic violence shelters and transitional housing. Michael has even handed out free cupcakes at McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. to people from all walks of life.

“In my opinion, a cupcake can do a lot!” Michael said in a post about people skeptical of his business model. “I’ve seen a cupcake inspire smiled, tears, amazement, joy, satisfactions, happiness and other private emotions that I won’t share out of respect for people’s dignity.”

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“Your business model isn’t sustainable. What can a cupcake do?” My answer to adults who tell me this: In my opinion a cupcake can do a lot! I’ve seen a cupcake inspire smiles, tears, amazement, joy, satisfaction, happiness and other private emotions that I won’t share out of respect for people’s dignity. I’ve passed a cupcake to someone sitting with all their possessions in a shopping cart and had them tell me that this one simple act gave them hope. I’ve left a cupcake beside someone who’s sleeping under blankets on a grate because their friend on the grate next to them said it was ok when I asked. That’s why I give away cupcakes. I’ve been told that my business model isn’t sustainable and that I can’t scale my business while giving away a dessert equal in value, ingredients and labor to the ones I sell. I just look at those people and think about the next cupcake I’m going to give away! #hunger #changetheworld #giveaway #cupcakes #food #foodaccess #foodjustice #foodsecurity #dignity #feedthepeople #cookies #pie #changeagent #bethechange #kidpreneur #dreams #hope #sweettreats #oneforone #1for1

A post shared by Michael Platt (@michaelsdesserts) on

Michael Platt has gained some attention for his kind acts, even pairing up with No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit organization also working to end childhood hunger in America. Michael has also been on Good Morning America where he shared his amazing work with the world.

“Getting a chance to share my passion to feed others and take care of one another was an opportunity I’ve dreamed of,” Michael Platt gushed in a heartwarming post to his Instagram. “You don’t have to be big, famous, old, wealthy or anything else to help the people around you!”

Michael also knows what it’s like to struggle. In sixth grade, Michael was diagnosed with epilepsy and was forced to leave public school due to his severe seizures. Due to his condition, Michael was forced to stop many of his favorite activities such as gymnastics, and climbing.

Baking became a way for Michael to express his creative and give back to his community.

Each month, Michael creates new “freedom fighter cupcakes” inspired by an amazing person who has inspired others. His most recent cupcake was inspired by Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who fights for equal access to education and is the youngest Nobel Prize recipient.

“So I choose a person to base a cupcake off for each month,” Michael said. “And each month I have a flavor that represents them — and I’ll tell their story on my Instagram page.”

Thanks to this 13 year-old boy’s dream, others are joining Michael in the fight to end hunger. Be sure to checkout Michael Platt’s social media and support his ambitious movement for change.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: People

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